Improvement in breast-pumps



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A Bres'bPumps. N0. 155,720. Patented Oct. 6,1874,

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4 coming in contact with the breast.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT C. GRAY AND CHARLES E. GASSIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Yf

IMPROVEMENT IN BREAST-PUMPS.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 155,720, dated October 6, 1874 application filed August 11, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT C. GRAY andv CHARLES E. GAssIN, each of the city, county, and State of New York, have jointly invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breast-Pumps 5 and we do hereby declare the following to be a-full, clear, and exact descrip- Jrion ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this speciiication.

Our invention relates to an improved breastpump, combining' with a flexible tube and removable air-chamber a removable cap or diaphragm, for imparting suction to a tubular iiexible rubber cushion for the nipple, substantially as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawing is represented a View of our invention in section.

A is a metallic tube, provided with valves A1 and vA2, the valve A1 opening toward the rubber diaphragm B, and the valve A2 opening toward the port a. B is a rubber cap or diaphragm, resting upon the flange A5 of the tube A, and inclosin g beneath it the space B. A3 and A4 are suitable screw-caps, for inclosing the valves and holding them in position. O is a flexible tube, united at one end to the metallic tube A, and at the other to the exitport D1 from the chamber E. D2 is a tube extending well down into the air-chamber E from the nipple-piece D. D3 is a flexible rubber tubular cushion, sprung over the edges of the metallic nipple-piece D, so as to prevent the cold edges of the metallic nipple-piece from Eis an air-chamber, which is readily inserted into or removed from the nipple-piece D by meansof a screw-thread upon its neck. At the same time that it acts as an air-exhaust chamber, it serves to collect the milk drawn from `the breast.

It is readily seen that, by removing the rubber cushion D3, the nipple-piece D can be thoroughly cleansed;l and the same is also true of the'rubber diaphragm B, the said diaphragm merely resting upon the ange A5.

rlhe `operation of the device is as follows: The nipple having been insertedinto the tube of the flexible cushion D3, the air is exhausted from the chamber B by passing two fingers beneath the iiange A5, and pressing with the thumb upon the diaphragm B. The valve A1 is thereby closed, the valve A2 is opened, and the air escapes. Upon releasing the thumb, the diaphragm B again expands to its original shape, the valve A2 closes, A1 opens, and the air is exhausted from the exhaust-chamber E, thus producing' a suction, to drawthe milk from the breast into the said chamber E. By repeating the operation, the Vsuction is kept up until a sufficient amount is withdrawn, when an equilibrium is at once established by removing the cup-piece B, and the whole device taken apart, as set fort-h, and cleansed.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isy l. The metallic nipplapiece D, attached to the air-chamber, and separately removable therefrom, provided with the air-pipe D2, exitport D1, and inwardly-projecting flexible shield or cushion D3, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In combination with the removable metallic nipple-piece D, the independent removable reservoir E, formed with a screw-thread neck or mouth, for securing it to the breastpiece, whereby said reservoir may be separately and independently removed from the nipple-piece and suction apparatus, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination of suction apparatus A B, removable nipple-piece D, independent removable reservoir E, and long iiexible connection-pipe O, all constructed, arranged, and adapted to operate substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. The suction device, consisting of the rubber diaphragm B and metallic tube A, con'- nected to the breast-piece D by a long flexible tube, O, said metallic tube A constructed with the end flan ged head A5, for receiving the rubber diaphragm B; discharge-valve A2, provided With cap A4; and end suction-valve A1, provided with a cap, A3, which cap has a tubular projecting portion, which forms the connection for the flexible tube O, substantially as and for the purposes described.

ROBT. G. GRAY. OHAS. E.` GASSIN.

Witnesses:

J osEPH R. Gassin, J. H. JoHNsoN. 

